Sharapova, Venus to star in HK

Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams will head the bill of top ten female players at the annual Hong Kong invitational.

Russia's Maria Sharapova and American Venus Williams will head the bill of top ten female players at January's annual Hong Kong invitational, organisers said on Wednesday.

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Former US Open champion Sharapova, ranked five in the world, and current Wimbledon champion Williams will star at the renamed JB Group Classic here between January 2-5.

They will be joined by world number four Ana Ivanovic, from Serbia, and world number seven, Anna Chakvetadze, from Russia.

"We are very excited about our line-up of stars - there will be some fantastic names here," said Ian Wade, President of the Hong Kong Tennis Patrons' Association.

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki and China's number two player Peng Shuai are also included, with two more players to complete the line-up in the next few weeks, Wade added.

Last year's final was won by the now-retired Belgian Kim Clijsters, who beat Sharapova in the final.